After the end of their contract with Warner Brothers the Grateful Dead set up their own record companies; Grateful Dead records for Grateful Dead albums and Round Records for solo projects.

Wake Of The Flood, the first release on the new label was announced to fans via a leaflet to Dead Heads;

We've decided to produce, manufacture, and distribute our records ourselves. The band today finished recording of an all-new studio album (been a long time) called Wake Of The Flood. The album will be made from the highest quality vinyl available, which has the best technical properties. In addition, it will be heavier (weighs more, that is) than most albums available in this country. It will be handled locally through independent record distributors and should be available everywhere.